East Northport Middle School Student Qualifies For State GeoBee

EAST NORTHPORT, NY — East Northport Middle School Matthew Munson recently qualified to compete in the National Geographic State GeoBee March 27 at the New York State Museum in Albany, according to the Northport-East Northport Union Free School District.

The GeoBee includes three levels of competition: school, state and national. For the second year in a row, Munson, a seventh grader, surpassed his peers to earn the title of school champion. However, this will be his first year competing in Albany as one of the top 100-ranked students in each state. Students are selected based on their scores on an online qualifying test. State champions are then invited to compete in the national championship in Washington D.C. in May.

Munson has been studying geography since first grade when he visited Barnes and Noble with his father and was intrigued by a bucket of world maps. Although the school has no geography club, he said he'd be open to starting one should there be enough student interest. In the meantime, Munson is a member of the student council, environmental action team and will play Lurch in the school’s production of The Addams Family March 19 through 21.

The school’s geography bee coordinator, Chris Rozmus, said Munson beat out some tough competition this year, competing against sixth and eighth graders, to be crowned the school champion with a perfect score.

"We wish him luck as he moves on to the next round in Albany," Rozmus said via news release. "I also look forward to seeing him compete next year as an eighth grader."